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MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2009 |

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Killing in the name of Christmas.

It's Christmas week in America, which means even less of you are reading than usual. Luckily I've still got four or five things to talk about while the stragglers pack up their offices, practice their putts, or continue to watch the James Bond movie marathon on TV in their pajamas. So keep surfing, champ.

Rage Against The Machine took the top chart honors for Christmas in the UK. Fans of the UK music scene, Simon Cowell (ew) or Love Actually all know that being number one at Christmas is a COVETED position of power for a musician, and totes a big deal. Everyone thought that the usual two-step, winning Britain's The X Factor (i.e. British Idol) would bump jolly hopeful Joe McElderry to the top spot with his debut single. "In recent years, it had become as predictable as elections in North Korea singer wins X Factor, singer's debut single goes to No 1." BUT fans of rock music, not to be called out for not knowing how the interwebs work, organized a stand-off to protest the ritual. They (not sure who "they" could be) created a Facebook page (just like college!) pleading with dissenters to go buy Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name Of," to which approximately 500,000 fans said "why not? Let's go smash some parked cars!" Of course they did it, McElderry took his loss with great poise, and for Rage, a nice nod and some solid Christmastime sales, not to mention the true meaning of Christmas their music: stick it to the man, dude. And THAT'S how you win Christmas. [via The Daily Swarm]

Thom Yorke is not happy with the COP15 results. Really? Environmental dismay from Radiohead? The only thing proper to do is reenter the studio, guitars (among other numerous electronic gizmos) ablazing. Check it out:

The vibe in the camp is fantastic at present, and we head off into the studio in January to continue on from the work we started last Summer .. I am so genuinely excited about what we're doing, but for obvious reasons I can't divulge anything more.. anyway we all love surprises don't we? 10 years ago we were all collectively (that's the band) in the land of Kid A .. and although hugely proud of that record, it wasn't a fun place to be .. What's reassuring now, is that we are most definitely a different band, which should therefore mean that the music is different too and that is the aim of the game....keep it moving. -Ed O'Brien (and also my dreams)

Great, now we'll have the soundtrack to our imminent death by our own stupid polluted hand. [via Stereogum]

Lil' Wayne was detained in Texas for drug possession . Add a pending conviction and the early leak of The Rebirth and I'll tell you how NOT to win Christmas (in jail). [via The AP]